Macbeth - Act 5 Analysis.

Act 5 Analysis - Macbeth coursework Scene one of this act is the most-quoted, most familiar part of this play. Until this point Macbeth has been tormented with visions, nightmares and disturbances in his sleep while Lady Macbeth scolds him for his weakness. Now the audience witnesses the way in which the murders have preyed on Lady Macbeth as well. In her sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth plays out the washing theme that runs throughout the play. After killing Duncan, she flippantly tells Macbeth that "a little water clears us of this deed;" now it is evident that this is not true, as the sleepwalking lady tries in vain to scrub the stain of blood off her hands. Lady Macbeth's stained hands are reminiscent of the Biblical mark of Cain the mark that God placed on Cain after he killed his brother Abel in the story of Genesis. Like Cain's mark, the stain of blood follows Lady Macbeth and reveals her guilt to the watching doctor and gentlewoman. However, Cain's mark is a sign from God that protects Cain from others' revenge; Lady Macbeth's mark, on the other hand, does not protect her from death, and she dies only a few scenes later. The doctor's behavior in this scene is interesting in that it closely resembles the work of a psychoanalyst, but precedes the "father of psychoanalysis," Freud, by centuries. Like a Freudian psychoanalyst, the doctor observes Lady Macbeth's dreams and

  • Word count: 761
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth act 3 scene 5

Transfer-Encoding: chunked Macbeth Act 3 Scene 5 This scene takes place in a 'deserted area' where there is thunder which also parallels with act 1 scene 1 where the witches meet each other with thunder and lightning. The scene establishes the mood of darkness and violence and also creates suspense and eerie atmosphere due to the presence of witches. It begins with Hecate's monolog where she disapproved the witches for meddling with Macbeth's future; this passage foreshadows the appearance of the witches to Macbeth along with his downfall. Her anger is shown at the opening of the scene with the use of three rhetorical questions. In the first rhetoric question, Hecate criticizes the witches in a deeming way. In the second rhetoric question the alliteration 'trade and traffic' emphasizes her upset tone and in the third rhetoric question she asserts her superiority over the witches "mistress of your charms, the close contriver of all harms". Through the metaphor, 'wayward son' Hecate gives clues that Macbeth attempted to defy the witches prophecy by trying to destroy Banquo's line. It also shows his self-centered ambition, and he is called a wayward son because he is not a genuine devotee of witchcraft and only aims to the profit by it. The lines by Hecate give a clear hint that Macbeth's reliance on the witches is misplaced and that he is doomed. After rebuking the witches

  • Word count: 483
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparing act 1 scene 5 with act 5 scene 1 of Macbeth

Comparing act 1 scene 5 with act 5 scene 1 of Macbeth There are many similarities and differences between the two scenes of Macbeth. One of the main differences is the ambition of the two main characters. As soon as Lady Macbeth reads the letter, in act 1 scene 5, her ambition shows, "thus thou must do if thou have it". Her ambition grows stronger when she finds out that king Duncan is coming to stay overnight, she prepares herself for evil with the "unsex me" speech, this shows that she is willing remove her weakness of being a woman for, "direst cruelty". This dramatic speech (which is quite early on in the play) gets the audience interested in the play, the speech is made dramatic by Shakespeare's use of vile language, "make thick my blood". In this scene macbeth is not as ambitious as his wife and does not get much chance to speak because Lady Macbeth is dominating and is in control of the relationship. In act 5 scene 1 there are many changes. Lady Macbeth who was so powerful and ambitious is now neither of these but a guilty woman in the middle of a mental breakdown, "will these hands ne'er be clean?". This surprises the audience that she could change so much which also interests the audience. This scene does not have to be as dramatic as act 1 scene 5 because Shakespeare already has the audience's attention. By this scene Macbeth's ambitions have grown a lot but Lady

  • Word count: 964
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparing Lady Macbeth in Act 1 & Act 5

Comparing Lady Macbeth in Act 1 & Act 5 The Task: Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 5 and Act 5 Scene 1 of 'Macbeth.' Account for the changes and differences you notice and suggest how a contemporary as well as a modern audience might respond to these scenes. Shakespeare's shortest and bloodiest tragedy, Macbeth tells the story of a brave Scottish general (Macbeth) who receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become king of Scotland. Consumed with ambitious thoughts and urged to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the throne for himself. He begins his reign wracked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a dictatorial ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect him from hate and suspicion. The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness, and death. Macbeth's wife is a deeply ambitious woman who desires for power and position. Early in the play she seems to be the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband. Her conscience affects her to such an extent that she eventually commits suicide. Interestingly, she and Macbeth are presented as being deeply in love, and

  • Word count: 2046
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth - Act 1, Scene 5, Act 1, Scene 7 and Act 5, Scene 1.

Macbeth - Act 1, Scene 5, Act 1, Scene 7 and Act 5, Scene 1 William Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564. He was one of eight children. The Shakespeare's were well-respected prominent people. When William Shakespeare was about seven years old, he probably began attending the Stratford Grammar School with other boys of his social class. Students went to school year round attending school for nine hours a day. On November 27, 1582, Shakespeare married Ann Hathaway who was twenty-eight years old. On May 26, 1583, Ann bore their first daughter, Susanna. In 1585, a set of twins was born, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died at the age of eleven in 1596. No evidence was found of Shakespeare between the years of 1585-1592. These years of Shakespeare's life were called "The Hidden Years". Shakespeare left London in 1611 and retired. On March 25, 1616, Shakespeare made a will. He died April 23, 1616 at the age of fifty-two. The cause of his death was unknown. Many people believe that Shakespeare knew he was dying; however, he didn't want anyone to know that he was. During Shakespeare's time, after the graveyard was full, they would dig one's corpse up and burn the person's bones in a huge fireplace. Some people would strip the corpse after the burial. Shakespeare hated this type of treatment after death, so he wrote his own epitaph. Ambitious, enthusiastic and assertive are only few

  • Word count: 3765
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Act 5: Scene 2 Commentary

English Commentary Final - Act 5: Scene 2 This passage is extracted from the final act (Act 5, Scene 1), where Lady Macbeth's speech publicly reveals her true nature. After having suffered from enormous pressure, Lady Macbeth's guilt is exposed. The audience has not seen Macbeth since Act 3, Scene 4, where Lady Macbeth criticises his flaws. Lady Macbeth's speech demonstrates that she cannot wipe away the blood on her hands (or her guilt); indicating that her battle to suppress her guilty conscience has failed completely. As the doctor and the gentlewoman talk about Lady Macbeth's unusual behaviour, the audience hears of a letter that she reads, "...I have seen her...take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it..." (Act 5, Scene 1). This letter is a visual reminder of her reading the fateful letter in Act I, Scene 5 but now she reads with agitation rather than expectation. Lady Macbeth appears on stage (in a state of somnambulism) holding a candle in her hand. The audience then learns that "she has a light by her continually" which may or may not represent her phobia of the dark (or Nyctophobia). Light symbolises knowledge, which is the removal of the phobia of the unknown. It is clear to the audience that Lady Macbeth's conscience has changed. This is also a reason why her words seem incomprehensible - however, the audience are still able to

  • Word count: 788
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Macbeth Act 1, scene 5 Analysis.

Act 1, scene 5 Analysis Coursework At Inverness, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth telling of his meeting with the witches. She fears that his nature is not ruthless enough, is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," to murder Duncan and assure the completion of the witches' prophesy. He has ambition enough, she claims, but lacks the gumption to act on it. She then implores him to hurry home so that she can "pour [her] spirits in [his] ear," in other words, goad him on to the murder he must commit. When a messenger arrives with the news that Duncan is coming, Lady Macbeth calls on the heavenly powers to "unsex me here" and fill her with cruelty, taking from her all natural womanly compassion. When Macbeth arrives, she greets him as Glamis and Cawdor and urges him to "look like th'innocent flower, / but be the serpent under Œt," and states that she will make all the preparations for the king's visit and subsequent murder. If Macbeth is indecisive, Lady Macbeth is just the opposite a character with such a single vision and drive for advancement that she cannot help but bring about her own demise. And yet her very ruthlessness is another form of ambiguity, for in swearing to help Macbeth realize the Weird Sisters' prophecy, she must cast off her femininity. In a speech at the beginning of scene five, she calls on the spirits of the air to take away her womanhood:

  • Word count: 545
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth Coursework - Act 1 Scene 5

Alice Smyth U5MLC Macbeth Coursework Act 1 Scene 5 Today was the first time I have been scared of myself. I don't know what came over me. I know I was serving the king but too split a man in half it must be wrong. Mustn't it? But enough about that it seems so irrelevant compared too what else happened today! I was walking home with my good friend Banquo when we stumbled across some evils beings. They could see the future or so they believed. (Well I did not believe what they told me until later that day). I will tell you what they said. They said: - I would be thane of Glamis (which I was already) I would be Thane of Cawdor And that I would be king. I know it is very unbelievable but a short while after Angus and Ross came and told me I was going to be Thane of Cawdor. At first I didn't understand as I thought the thane was still alive but it turns out that the thane was killed as he was a traitor. Banquo doesn't seem as bothered as me about the news. Yet the prophecies he got were not as precise. I don't quite understand them. They were: - "Lesser than me (Macbeth), and greater" "Not so happy, yet much happier" "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" I thought about it all day its puzzled me how can he be less then me but greater? And if he's not happy yet happier then does that mean I will be sad? He shall get kings though never be king! It puzzles me

  • Word count: 1079
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Director's Notes on Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1.

Director's Notes on Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1 In this version of Macbeth, the story will be set in Ancient Egypt and around 500 B.C. and a Proscenium will be used. I chose Ancient Egypt because according to my knowledge, the Egyptians were extremely superstitious and they believed that they will be punished if they commit a great sin. Also, as you know, Egypt is a relatively large country and in order for the Pharaoh (Egyptian King) to control the country easier, they had feudal lords, just like thanes. I have also chosen to make Lady Macbeth an evil woman because for me, it is easier to create instructions and show her feelings through her speech. My aim is to make the audience feels sympathetic when they look at her state of mind in Act 5 scenes 6 and 7. This is because all she wanted to do is to help her husband become King, but in the end they both suffer from the consequences. At the start, she was dominating in most of the conversations. This was happening probably because Macbeth could not make up his mind nor defend his point of view. Therefore, she had to convince him to kill Duncan in whatever way she can think of. This can be seen in Act 1 scene 6 when she says to Macbeth: "When you durst do it, then you were a man?" Here, she accuses Macbeth of being a coward and that she will not consider him as a man unless he listens to her and murder

  • Word count: 813
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth attitude change using the speeches from Act 1 scene 7 and Act 5 scene 5

Describe How Macbeth's Attitude Changes as the play progresses using the speeches from Act 1 scene 7 and Act 5 scene 5 Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays the way that he uses the full potential of all his characters and still manages to make the play a tragedy is outstanding. The two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have similar roles. We see them changing their roles through the play to suit the mood they are in. If we look at two of Macbeth's key speeches in the play in Act 1 Scene 7 and Act 5 Scene 5, we see the changes in his character are very prominent. In Act 1 Scene 7, the use of "if" as the first word implies Macbeth still hasn't made up his mind about the assassination of Duncan and He says "if the assassination could trammel up the consequence" implying the Macbeth would definitely go ahead with the murder of Duncan, if no-one asked any questions about the murder afterwards, which is of course absurd. This shows that Macbeth definitely hasn't made up his mind about the murder yet but his still has a slight wish it could happen. The use of words in pairs such as "surcease, success," and "be-all and the end-all," shows that Macbeth is very two faced about this whole affair of murdering Duncan. Also the use of "double trust," and both against the deed; then, as his host," shows that Macbeth's intentions are not wholly on killing Duncan because

  • Word count: 900
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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